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Bullying Prevention: Resources and Tips for Parents

Reana Sinani
Oct 6
3 min read

October is National Bullying Prevention month, highlighting a persistent problem in schools and communities across the country. Whether at home or at school, trusted adults play an important role in creating a safe environment where kids and teenagers can openly communicate about experiences of being bullied or witnessing bullying happen to someone else. 


National Bullying Prevention Month is October, orange hand with stop bullying

How do I approach the conversation about bullying with my kid?

Talking to kids across age groups about what bullying is and what it can look like is a significant first step in preventing it. A simple, age-appropriate description of bullying can sound like, “Bullying is when someone repeatedly hurts, scares, or makes fun of another person on purpose,” “Bullying is when someone makes you feel less about who you are as a person,” or similar wording that feels natural to you. Bullying has many forms, including:


  • Physical harm: hitting, kicking, or punching someone

  • Verbal abuse: putting someone down by saying mean things about them/calling them mean names

  • Spreading rumors: telling lies about someone, so that others think badly of them

  • Isolation: purposefully leaving someone out from games or hangouts

  • Mocking: making fun of the way someone looks, talks, or acts

  • Threats: scaring someone into doing what you want

  • Cyberbullying: posting or sending mean messages online to hurt someone’s feelings


What are some warning signs to look out for?

Kids and teenagers may not always feel comfortable coming forward and speaking about their experiences if they experience bullying in their schools and communities. One of the ways that parents can get ahead of this is looking out for warning signs that someone may be getting bullied:


  • Feeling afraid to go to school

  • Losing interest; becoming quiet, withdrawn, or no longer enjoying usual hobbies

  • Mood changes; seeming anxious, upset, irritable, changes in sleep/appetite

  • Changes in their friend groups; seeming alone or left out of their usual circle

  • Physical injuries or damage to belongings; coming home with physical scars or having their personal items broken or damaged

  • Feeling afraid to check social media, which can be specifically related to cyber-bullying


Many of the warning signs listed above are also effects that bullying can have on someone’s mental health. Losing interest in hobbies and experiencing mood changes are ways that depression and anxiety can show up in kids and teenagers. Bullying can lead to increased risk of depression and/or anxiety, lower self-esteem, emotional distress and trauma, difficulty in school and social situations, and self-harm and suicidal thoughts. If you notice these warning signs, or if your kid discloses experiencing bullying in school, it is important to cultivate a space where they feel safe opening up about something vulnerable. Some ways to approach their disclosures include:


  • Thank you for telling me about this/ trusting me with this. 

  • I’m glad you told me.

  • You didn’t deserve that; no one should be treated that way.

  • Help me better understand what happened.

  • Let’s figure out the next steps together.

  • Whatever you’re feeling, you don’t have to go through it alone. I’m here for you.


Who do I contact if my kid is being bullied?

Once you have established safety and obtained enough information to understand the situation, appropriate next steps include contacting school staff, reaching out to teachers to further discuss, and/or the principal to go over the school’s policy on instances of bullying. It is important to keep any evidence in relation to the occurrence in case it is needed by the school. Additionally, Fortify Florida is a helpful online tool that allows you to instantly relay information to appropriate law enforcement agencies and school officials; it is included below with additional resources. 


As a final reminder, parents can proactively prevent bullying in school by teaching kindness and empathy, talking openly and frequently about kids’ time at school, and educating them about what bullying is and what it can look like. However, if the effects of bullying start to escalate and affect your kid or teenager’s mental health and safety, the Alora Therapy and Wellness team recommends reaching out to a mental health professional to help you and your family navigate this difficult time. 


Resources for Bullying

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